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Category Archives: restless leg syndrome

How do our bodies use B12? Mayo Clinic writes that “Vitamin B12 is frequently used in combination with other B vitamins in a vitamin B complex formulation. Vitamin B12 is important in DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion.”

As a Chronic Lyme Disease patient, I’ve learned firsthand about the importance of Vitamin B12 for gut health (which Lyme wreaks havoc on) and nerve health. When I had carpal tunnel surgery ten years ago, not one of my three doctors thought to test my B12 levels. It wasn’t until three years ago in my search for answers to my health issues that I asked my health care provider to test my B12, and it was high, despite not being on any supplements. I found out through the thyroid patient support groups that it can be a symptom of having methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation. So I tested through 23andme and, sure enough, I have it. (Read more here to learn about the conditions MTHFR can cause.)

For me, B12 supplementation (with methyl-B12) has made a tremendous difference. It stops my restless leg syndrome and light-headedness (my head feels like a balloon that is about to pop when my B12 is low), improves my weakness, tiredness, sore calves, rapid heart rate, breathlessness, and more, including many symptoms I thought were due to my chronically low iron (thank you, Lyme Disease and heavy metals).

We can also find B12 in fish, shellfish, meat, eggs, and dairy products, but I personally choose meat and eggs from pastured animals, wild-caught fish, and unadulterated dairy from pastured cows or goats because I know those products are healthier and nutrient-dense.

By the way, I’m not a medical professional. Please read my disclaimer.

That being said, in my research for my own health which I share with you here, I’ve found that B12 deficiency can cause:

Again, I’m not a medical professional. But as a patient, I understand that serum B12 labs are not always enough to rule out a deficiency because the lab is checking serum levels, not tissue levels of B12. Here is a list of labs that might be helpful, according to the video linked above: